Russia Aided North Korean Export Missiles
September 20, 2003 :: Geostrategy-Direct :: News
Russia aided North Korea’s Taepo’ Dong missile development, reports Geostrategy-Direct. The Taepo-Dong may well have been a copy of the Russian SS-N-6, or R-27. Iran is the most likely client to purchase Taepo’ Dongs, when they become available. China has also been using North Korea as a front to export missiles. “Although China recently issued updated regulations on the export of chemical and biological agents, as well as missile-related export controls, full implementation and effective enforcement are still lacking,” Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last week. “We continue to see disturbing cases of proliferation activities by certain Chinese firms.” (Article, Link)
» More stories on: China, North Korea, Russia
» Missile details: SS-N-17, Tien Chi, Tien Ma 1
Iran Looks to Buy Russian S-400 System
September 16, 2003 :: Geostrategy-Direct :: News
Iran is looking to buy an air and missile defense system from Russia, perhaps the more advanced S-400, reports Geostrategy Direct. Russia previously offered a similar system for purchase by Abu Dhabi, in 2002. (subscription required) (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Russia, Russian Missile Defenses
» Missile system details for: S-400 (SA-20 Triumf)
Russian S-300 to go to Vietnam
September 3, 2003 :: Asia Times :: News
Russia appears to have negotiated a deal with Vietnam to purchase its most recent version of the S-300 air and missile defense system, the S300 PMU2. Other sales of the S-300 have included Cyprus and China; although India recently expressed interest as well, they now appear to be favoring the US PAC systems. According to the Asian Times:
The S300 PMU2 uses new 48N6E2 missiles, which weigh 1,800 kilograms and are 7.5 meters long. After a catapult “cold” start in the upright position, the 48N6E2 accelerates up to 1,900 meters a second in 12 seconds, and then hits the target from above. The 48N6E2 differs from the older 48N6E in having a new warhead designed for destroying ballistic missiles, with a warhead weight of 145 kilograms versus 70-100 kilograms. The S300 PMU2 can engage targets flying at altitudes ranging from 10 meters to 27 kilometers at a speed of up to 10,000 kilometers per hour.
(Article, Link)
» More stories on: Proliferation, Russia, Russian Missile Defenses
» Missile system details for: S-300P (SA-10 Grumble)
Russian General on the Extent of Russian Missile Defenses Instructive of US Policy
September 2, 2003 :: Pravda :: News
Why should one be concerned that the United States is not doing enough on missile defense? Because the Russians are not, either. A story in Pravda cites Lieutenant-General Vladimir Grigorkin as lamenting that the Russian missile defense system now covers “only” thirty percent, as compared to the Soviet days when it protected substantially all of Soviet territory. Grigorkin is praised for his own work on the now old SS-18 “Satan” ballistic missile which was designed to overcome then-potential American defense efforts. The same general is also cited as not being “anxious” about American ballistic missile defenses for the simple fact that they do not pose any threat to Russia’s own offensive deterrent. Critics of President Bush sometimes complain that he is abandoning the policy of mutually assured destruction, and that this is a bad thing, and dangerous to “strategic stability.” In fact, these critics have nothing to complain about, as this does not seem to be the case.
Long before the Buran project, Vladimir Grigorkin participated in construction of launchig pads for different rockets. “I worked for a year in Siberia as the head of a department building silos for the world’s most powerful ballistic rockets. NATO called the rockets “Satans”. They could challenge the US’ most modern anti-missile defense system. One rocket of this type carries up to ten self-guided high-power warheads. On board, the rocket has a considerable number of false targets to mislead the enemy. It’s a pity that it was realized too late; it was important to keep the weapon in operation. The majority of rockets of the type were liquidated. even though they were still operable.”
When Vladimir Grigorkin became the head of the special construction department of the Defense Ministry, the silos were being built across the Soviet Union. Now, we have such rockets in Russia only.
The general is not that anxious about the disputes concerning the so-called anti-missile defense. Some time ago, Vladimir Grigorkin participated in creation of an anti-missile shield around Moscow. He says that nowadays only 30 per cent of Russia is protected from attacks of aerospace vehicles, while in the Soviet era the missile shield covered the whole territory of the country. The general is indignant at the fact that the national defense has such large breaches that we may notice attacks of an enemy on some territories only when we see nuclear explosions over these territories.
Update: The January 23, 2004 edition of Itar-Tass quotes a source in the Russian Foreign Ministry that The United States and Russia “are ready to cooperate in non-destabilizing missile defense.” This is entirely keeping with the non-threatening nature largely characteristic of those American missile defense systems proposed since the fall of the Soviet Union. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Policy, Russia, Russian Missile Defenses
Russia Purchases SS-19 Boosters from Ukraine
September 1, 2003 :: Jane's Information Group :: News
In July, reports came forward that Russia had been purchasing 130 or 150 SS-19 ICBMs from Ukraine, the balance of the much larger number of those missiles which had been retained in that province after the fall of the Soviet Union.
The September 1 edition of Jane’s Missiles and Rockets reports that Russia is also purchasing 30 first- and second-stage booster stages for the SS-19 missiles, for a price equivalent to 50 million dollars. According to the report, these are the boosters for the RS-18 15A35, known by the Western designations SS-19 and ‘Stiletto’.
According to Janes, the Russian press reports that the programme for this transfer began in October 2002. These missiles, which had apparently been in “dry storage,” will now be transferred and stored in the Strategic Rocket Force facilities at Pibanshur in Udmurtia and Krizolotiovy, and will serve to extend the lives of the SS-19 stockpile. Janes says that the refitting will give the SS-19s an additional 15-20 years of service. (Link)
» More stories on: Proliferation, Russia
» Missile details: SS-21 A, SS-21 B
Moscow Selects New Head of Russian Missile Defense Company
August 19, 2003 :: The Moscow Times :: News
Russian Prime Minsister has recommended that the missile defense company, Almaz-Antei, be headed up by Vladislav Menshchikov, from St. Petersburg. Menschicov is described as a “little known official” from Putin’s hometown, who has a “conspicous gap” in his resume, from 1982-1995.
The Prime Minister’s recomendation is that the company’s board go through the formal motion of voting Menshchikov president of the company, which is 100% owned by the Russian government. Almaz is the result of last year’s decree by the Kremlin which ordered the consolidation of 46 companies which had formerly supplied MD technologies independently. Almaz produces the S-400 missile defense system deployed around Moscow, as well as the S-300 which Russia exports, and other air defense systems.
The former head of Almaz, Klimov, was assassinated in June, a murder which remains unsolved. (Article, Link)
» Janes: Almaz likely to showcase new S-400 MD system
» More stories on: Russia
» Missile system details for: S-300P (SA-10 Grumble), S-400 (SA-20 Triumf)
Ukraine Sells 150 More ICBMs to Russia
July 28, 2003 :: The Moscow Times :: News
When the Soviet Union dissolved in December 1991, Ukraine inherited the third largest arsenal of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. Shortly after 1991, some 1,300 of these were transported to Russia, but 150 SS-19s were retained by the Ukrainian “space agency.”
Ukraine has now sold these ICBMs to Russia, a move which further bolsters the Russian strategic arsenal. The missiles will likely be soon put into service.
The acquisition of the SS-19s serve to replace aging and less advanced SS-18 ICBMs, which Russia recently destroyed with much press attention. The recent SORT Treaty with the United States further reduces the number of nuclear arms to between 1700 and 2200, thereby accomodating a level of nuclear parity which the the flagging Russian economy can support. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Proliferation, Russia
» Missile details: SS-21 A, SS-21 B
William T. Lee, RIP
November 4, 2002 :: Center for Security Policy :: News
The Center for Security Policy upon the death of Intelligence Officer William T. Lee, long time cold warrior and advocate for ballistic missile defense. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Analysis, Russia
Bush Announcement of Intention to Withdraw from ABM Treaty
December 13, 2001 :: The White House :: News
Speaking in the Rose Garden with Vladimir Putin at his side, President Bush announced that the United States would be giving formal notice to Russia to withdraw from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty made with the Soviet Union.
Today, I have given formal notice to Russia, in accordance with the treaty, that the United States of America is withdrawing from this almost 30 year old treaty. I have concluded the ABM treaty hinders our government’s ability to develop ways to protect our people from future terrorist or rogue state missile attacks. The 1972 ABM treaty was signed by the United States and the Soviet Union at a much different time, in a vastly different world. One of the signatories, the Soviet Union, no longer exists. And neither does the hostility that once led both our countries to keep thousands of nuclear weapons on hair-trigger alert, pointed at each other. The grim theory was that neither side would launch a nuclear attack because it knew the other would respond, thereby destroying both.
(Article, Link)
» More stories on: ABM Treaty, Policy, Russia
Pravda Commemorates 1961 Test: A Time When Ballistic Missiles Were Thought “Absolute”
March 3, 2001 :: Pravda :: News
Pravda commemorates “an important date,” the fortieth anniversary of the Soviet Union’s first interception of a ballistic missile. Indeed, Pravda describes it as “the world’s first.”
On March 4, 1961 a medium-range missile was launched from the Kapustin Yar rocket test range (Lower Volga). After a short interval its front section was detected by tracking systems and then hit by an anti-missile. This system was deployed at the Sary-Shagan range in Kazakhstan (a former Soviet republic), according to RIA Novosti. The direct hit of the missile front section was not only of military and technical, but also of political significance, since in those days the ballistic missile was considered to be an “unputdownable” weapon, or absolute. It was stressed at the press-service that it was a landmark event, one which opened a new page in global confrontation between the two superpowers - the USSR and the US.
Worth noting is that ballistic missiles are referred to as having been perceived “in those days” as “unputdownable,” or “absolute.” Pravda indicates that the Soviets and Russia moved beyond such superstition—which was subsequently followed by the deployment of their operational missile defense system around Moscow.
Unfortunately, many elites in America today are still wed to the idea that ballistic missiles are impossible to defend against. It is this mistaken notion which has long provided a primary impediment to the political will to provide for the common defense (More »»»)
» More stories on: Russia, Russian Missile Defenses
